Rapid  Refill System for a Toy Water Gun

ABSTRACT

A water gun assembly having a housing with an internal water reservoir. Multiple access opening lead through the housing and into the internal reservoir. The access openings are covered by a cover element. The cover element can be moved relative the housing between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the cover element obstructs the access openings. In the open configuration, the cover element does not obstruct the access openings, therein enabling the water reservoir to be rapidly refilled with water.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/653,064, filed May 30, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to toy water guns. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of toy water guns that enable the reservoir of the toy water gun to be refilled with water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary water gun containing a first embodiment of the present invention rapid fill system;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rapid fill system of FIG. 1 shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rapid fill system of FIG. 1 shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary water gun containing a second embodiment of the present invention rapid fill system;

FIG. 5 shows the rapid fill system of FIG. 4 shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary water gun containing a third embodiment of the present invention rapid fill system; and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There are many toy water guns that have been manufactured for retail sale. Most all toy water guns contain a housing in which is constructed a water reservoir. The water reservoir holds a volume of water. Also provided is a pumping mechanism for pumping the water out of the water reservoir as the toy water gun is operated. The pumping mechanism is typically either a trigger pump that mechanically pumps water out of the toy water gun, or an air pump that forces water out of the toy water gun. Regardless of how the water is propelled from the toy water gun, the water reservoir needs to be periodically refilled.

In the prior art, many toy water guns have water reservoirs that are accessible through a small refill opening. The refill opening is typically closed with a plug. To refill the reservoir within the toy water gun, the plug is temporarily removed. The refill opening is then either held under water, or water is poured into the refill opening. In either scenario, it can take several seconds for the water reservoir to refill. This is due primarily to the small size of the refill opening. Furthermore, the refill opening can be obstructed by the air exiting the water reservoir, since both the incoming water and the outgoing air must pass through the same small refill opening.

In other prior art toy water guns, the water reservoirs are configured as a bottle. The bottle can be detached from the toy water gun and filled with water. The filled bottle is then reattached to the toy water gun. The process of removing a reservoir bottle from a toy water gun, refilling the bottle, and reattaching the bottle also typically takes at least several seconds to complete. Accordingly, having a detachable water reservoir does not make the refilling of a toy water gun any more rapid.

The present invention is a rapid refill system for a toy water gun that enables the toy water gun to be refilled with water in only a few seconds. In this manner, the water gun can be refilled much more rapidly than prior art designs.

Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a first exemplary embodiment of a toy water gun 10 is shown. The toy water gun 10 has a housing 18. Inside the housing 18 of the toy water gun 10 is a water reservoir 12. The water reservoir 12 has multiple access ports 14 that extend through the top wall 16 of the water reservoir 12. The combined area of the multiple access ports 14 is at least as large as 30% of the area of the reservoir's top wall 16. It will therefore be understood that when the multiple access ports 14 are open and the toy water gun 10 is submerged in water, the flow of water and air through the multiple access ports 14 will be very rapid. This will enable an empty reservoir to fill in only one or two seconds after submersion.

A fill cover 20 is provided. The fill cover attaches to the housing 18 of the toy water gun 10 and selectively covers the multiple access openings 14 that lead to the water reservoir 12. The fill cover 20 is selectively positionable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. When the fill cover 20 is in its closed position (FIG. 2), the fill cover 20 obstructs the multiple access ports 14. This prevents water from flowing into or out of the water reservoir 12 through the access openings 14. However, when the fill cover 20 is moved into its open configuration, (FIG. 3) the access ports 14 are unobstructed and water can rapidly fill the water reservoir 12.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the fill cover 20 is biased by a spring 22 into its closed configuration. Thus, to fill the water reservoir 12, the fill cover 20 is shifted against the bias of the spring 22 to expose the access openings 14. The toy water gun 10 is then submerged or placed under a flow of water to rapidly fill the water reservoir 12. As soon as the water reservoir 12 is full, the fill cover 20 is released and the spring 22 returns the fill cover 20 to its closed configuration. The toy water gun 10 is then full and ready for use.

There are many alternate ways to selectively open and close the access openings 14 that lead to the water reservoir. Such an alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it can be seen that a toy water gun 30 is provided that has multiple assess openings 32. The access openings 32 lead to an internal water reservoir. The access openings 32 can be selectively obstructed by the turning of a rotatable closure 34. The rotatable closure 34 is sized to seal the access openings 32 when rotated atop the access openings 32. By rotating a knob 36, the rotatable closure 34 can be selectively aligned with the access openings 32 (FIG. 4) or moved to the side of the access openings 32 (FIG. 3). In this manner, the rotatable closure 34 can be manipulated between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

Referring lastly to both FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 another alternate embodiment of a toy water gun 50 is illustrated. In his embodiment, there are multiple access openings 52 that lead to an internal water reservoir 56. In this embodiment, a funnel structure 54 is provided between each of the access openings 52 and the internal water reservoir 56. Each of the funnel structures 54 enables water to quickly flow into the water reservoir 56 from a source outside the access openings 52. However, the presence of the funnel structures 54 prevents significant amounts of water from splashing out of the water reservoir 56 while the toy water gun 50 is in play.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 do not have a movable closure, the funnel structures 54 have the effect of an access port obstruction, therein keeping water in the water reservoir 56.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy water gun, comprising: a housing containing an internal reservoir, wherein said housing defines a plurality of openings that enable water to flow into said internal reservoir when said housing is at least partially submerged; a cover element that engages said housing and is movable on said housing between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said cover element obstructs said plurality of openings when in said closed configuration and does not obstruct said plurality of opening when in said closed configuration; and a manually operated pumping mechanism that draws the water from said reservoir and propels the water from said housing when activated. 